Snap hook



Feb. 21, 1928. 1,660,028

J. B. BAXTER SNAP HOOK Filed Nov. 2. 1926 F I I a 5" Z" N I amuentoz."

: shaped patented Feb. 21, 1928.

"UNITED STA TES JOHN B. BAXTER, OF TROY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORTO COVERT MANUFACTURING COM- 7 PANY,

OIE WATERVLIET, NEW-YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW ,YORK.

SNAP Hoox.

. Application filed November 2, 1926. 'S eriai n; 145,887.!

This invention relates to improvements in snap hooks of the kind known as boltsnaps that have a spring pressed bolt sliding in a tubular body or barrel, the outer end of the shank of the thumb piece working in a longitudinal guide slot in the forward part of thetubular body or barrel.

In snap hooks of the class referred to there is the turned-over type, in which the blank is cast substantially trough-shape or of U-shape form in cross section and the upper portions of the sides are afterward turned over to form the barrel, the forward portions of the sides being of less depth than the rear portions to provide the longitudinal guide slot extending from the hook or forward end ofthe barrel. There is also what is known as the core type wherein the barrel or tubular body blank is cast with a core. Heretofore in the turned-over type the forward portions of the sides of the trough blank have been formed'of equal depth throughout, the upper edge faces of said side wall portions extending in lines parallel with the axis of thetubular blank, and in forming the barrel, when the rear deeper portions of the sides were brought together, it drew the back parts of the forward sections of said sides closer together than the front'parts thereof, the guide slot being wider at the front thanat the rear with a tendency toward wedge shape. This 7 left the bolt free and loose at the front end of the guide slot with a tendency to shoot upward out of alignment with the bill of the hook, a serious fault, dangerously im-' pairing the efficiency of the device, while the narrow back part of the guide slot caused the-bolt to bind at the back of the slot. Fur thermore, the tumbling and finishing of the snap tends to crowd and close in the front of the barrel resulting in still further narrowing the slot at the' backand preventing free operation of 'the bolt, necessitating punching, which only increases the difficulty since in order to press the slot open far enough at the end, which naturally opens with less pressure, was opened to too great an extent.

Similar'trouble has been encountered in the manufacture of the core type of bolt snap. These have been cast with the side bolt normally engaging the bill of the hook, and the bolt being provided with a thumb piece for operating the same, the

back part thereof, the front;

walls of the g ide slot arallel with each other and with the" axis of the blank. In

the tumbling and finishing treatment, the front of the barrel became tumbled in and had to be punched open to permit the insertron of the bolt, which left the guide slot wedge shaped, wider and flaring at the front part, leaving the bolt loose at the front end of the slot and causing the same to bind at the back end thereof.

The object of the present invent-ionis to improve the manufacture of the class of snap hooks referred'to, to provide an improved construction of body casting or blank whereby-the difficulties referred to are overcome and an improvedbolt snap provided in which the bolt is free to slide within the barrel while properly confined at the front of the barrel to prevent looseness and lateral or upwardplay. I r

' Theinvention, with other objects and advantages thereof, 1 and the particular construction and arrangement of parts compris:

ing the same will be understood from the hereinafter detailed description, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof and illus-' V trating embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings: F1gure 1 is a top plan view of a bolt snap constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the casting or blank.

Fig. 4.- is' a top plan view of the casting or blank.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line XX of Figure 3.

Fig. 6 is a section on the line YY of Figure 3. v

Fig. 7 is a, section on theline Z-Z of Fig ure 2. i

Fig. 8 is atop plan view of a casting or blank for a core type snap constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 9 is a section on the line A-A of Figure 8. i

While in the drawings two specific embodiments of the invention are illustrated, it will be understood that changes and modifica- V tions of the particular constructions shownv Referring to a detailed description ofthe particularembodiment of the invention illustrating Figures 1 to 7 of t'he drawings,

A designates the body or barrel portion having a hook B at one end and a loop C at its other end. D designates the bolt provided with a thumb piece 65. a isthe guide slot in the forward portion of the barrel for the shank d of the thumb pieced, and E is a coiled spring interposed between the loop endof the body and the inner end of the bolt D. p

The body' or barrel" portion A is cast trough-shape with sides having rear portions or sections 6+?) and forward sections c0, the latter being of less height or depth than the former. t

i In accordance with the present invention the forward section c-0 of the sides of the blank are of greater depth or height at the front and gradually slope to the rear, so that when the sides are turned over in the usual way to form the barrel a guide slot a will be provided which is narrower at the front end of the barrel than at the rear, said slot gradually increasing in' width" from front to rear, allowance being made for the drawing of the back portions of the wall sections c-c closer together than the front portions thereof in the turning over of the sides, and also for pressing the forward. end portion of the barrel open to insert the bolt, should this be necessary, after the tumbling and finishing operation, without leavingthe slot a V-shaped or flaring and too much 0. open at the front.

In Figures 9 and 10 of the drawings is illustrated an embodiment of the invention as applied to the core type bolt snap. F designates the body ,or barrelportion of the snap having at its ends the hook G and loop H. f designates the guide slot in theforguide slot in the construction illustrated Figures I to 7, the opposing side walls 7 of the" slot 7' diverging from front to rear, said slot being narrower at the front and gradually increasing in width towardthe rear.

It will be noted'that the improved construction hereinbefore set forth is .of a sim ple, practical nature, easy to manufacture, and entirely overcomes the difiiculties hereinbefore referred to, the V-shaped or open mouthed slot and the attendant dangers and weakness from. the bolt sliding outwardly or upwardly at the-frontbeing completely eliminated, the: improved structure; provid ing for free backward operation of the bolt while holding the same down at the front. againstupward play. 7 r

1. A bolt snap hook casting or blank having-a barrel provided with a longitudinal slot in its upper side at the forward part thereof, the opposing-side walls of said slot diverging from the front end portion; of the barrel towards the rearthereof.-

2. A bolt snap hookcasting or blankhaving a barrel provided with a longitudinal 1 guide slotin its upper side at thefforward part thereof, said slot being narrower atthe r front thereof at the front end portion'of the barrel than at the rear.

8. A bolt snap hook casting or'blank having a body or barrel part'substantially U- shaped in cross section the; side walls of which are adapted to be bentintoward each other,forward opposing portions of said side walls being of less depth than rear wall portions thereof, and said forward portion being of greater depth at-their front than at" their rear to provide "a-longitudinally e'xtending guide slot narrower at the front of the barrel than at its'r'ea-r part. Y

4. A bolt snap hookjcasting or blank 'having a body or barrel part of substantially U- shaped form in cross section the side walls of wh ch are adapted to be bent-1n toward eacl r other, forward opposing portions of said side walls being of less depth than rear portions 7 thereof, andisaid forward opposing portions being of greater depth at, the front and grad ually sloping rearwardly to provide a longitudinally extending guide slotnarrower at the front and gradually increasing in width toward the rear. e

5. A bolt snap hook having a barrel provided with'a hook atone end thereof, said barrel having a slotteclportion and opening tothe interior thereof, aboltinthe barrel Ward portion of the barrel F, sa d slot being of the same shape as the shape of the.

adapted to cooperate with the hook to close the same, and an actuatingjniember for the bolt projecting outwardly, through the slot-' ted portion of :thebarrel, the slotted por-' tion ofthe barrel being formed to provide a relatively constricted vportion for reception of the actuatingmember when the bolt is in closed position to limit lateral play thereof,

the rear portion of the slot permitting relatively free movement of the actuating mem her when shifting therein. I

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature. I

JOHN B. BAXTERQV" 

